University of San Diego Board Chairman Don Knauss, Wife Ellie Donate $50 Million to USD’s School of Business

December 3, 2021

The University of San Diego (USD) has received one of the largest donations in the university’s history. USD Board Chairman Donald Knauss, the former CEO of Clorox, and his wife, Ellie, have generously invested more than $50 million to not only build the Knauss Center for Business Education, but also to name The Knauss School of Business.

“This is our investment in educating ethical and compassionate business leaders — leaders who enable a free enterprise system that creates wealth on a fair and equitable playing field. Without the creation of wealth, no society can take care of its most vulnerable, lift the standards of living of its citizens or make the investments needed to preserve this planet for future generations,” said Don Knauss, USD Board Chairman.

The Knauss Center for Business Education will open in Fall 2022. The new 120,000-square-foot building — together with the renovated Olin Hall — will create an amazing complex that will more than triple the size of The Knauss School of Business.

Inside the Knauss Center for Business Education:

● The Free Enterprise Suite, a space with state-of-the-art technology to help seed student startups from across the university.

● The Student Success Center, which unifies advising, career development, mentoring and all other student services under one roof.

● The Busch Family Torero production studio, named through the first gift to the building project from Kim and Andy Busch, will be a state-of-the-art production studio for creating mock interviews, videos, podcasts and other tools to help students develop their personal brand.

● The Dennis Zocco and Dan Rivetti Finance Lab, supported through the generous gift from the Kokua Na Lani Foundation, will help students develop advanced financial analysis skills through training on the most impactful software tools being used by thought leaders in the financial services industry.

● The Nexus Theatre will be perfect for small gatherings or large events.

“We believe that ethical and compassionate leadership in business or other fields is arguably the most powerful force in society,” said USD President James T. Harris III. “At USD, we believe a values-driven education, coupled with a commitment to free enterprise, gives us the means to deliver on our vision to care for and protect society for future generations.”

The Knauss School of Business will be an unparalleled place for learning and innovation that will help prepare students to succeed not just academically, but as ethical leaders who are inspired to make a difference in their communities.

“Many business schools across the nation focus on graduating aspirational leaders,” said Tim Keane, PhD, dean of The Knauss School of Business. “At USD, however, our focus goes deeper, to the very heart of who we are as a Catholic institution. Our focus is on true stewardship — on caring for and protecting society, on using what we learn in the classroom and in the world for good. We are incredibly grateful to Don and Ellie for their generous gift and visionary leadership in support of our mission.”

The Knauss Legacy

The Knauss School of Business name honors Don Knauss’ achievements at the highest levels in his career as a retired chairman and CEO of The Clorox Company. Don Knauss was an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps and started his business career in brand management in the paper products division at Procter & Gamble. He moved on to the Frito Lay and Tropicana divisions of PepsiCo, Inc., and worked his way up to become president of Coca-Cola’s Southern Africa division and then became chief executive officer of The Minute Maid Company. He later became president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola North America, before reaching the pinnacle at The Clorox Company.

Don and Ellie Knauss established the Knauss Scholars Program for the children of Clorox employees. They also support student veterans through the Don and Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource and Support Center at Texas A&M. They have funded college education for hundreds of students nationwide by establishing scholarships for students with financial need at multiple universities.

Don and Ellie Knauss are proud parents of four children, including one who is a 2011 USD graduate.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. With more than 9,000 students from 69 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. The university's eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, The Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD's Envisioning 2024 strategic plan capitalizes on the university’s recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.

Source: University of San Diego

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